Original source: UNAIDS

The Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Helen Clark recently ended a four-country tour of Africa to highlight progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the run-up to the MDGs Summit in September 2010. Ms Clark travelled to Mali, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, and South Africa.

“Achieving the MDGs means quite simply a better life for billions of people,” Helen Clark said. “...Reaching the Millennium Development Goals is possible, and there is a range of tried and tested policies which ensure progress, particularly when backed by strong partnerships.”

UNAIDS participated in one leg of the tour as part of a joint mission with UNDP. UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé accompanied Ms Clark to Mali on a four-day mission where he reiterated his call for preventing HIV transmission from mothers to children. "I am honoured to join Helen Clark on her first visit to Mali, which is a clear sign of the UN's commitment to reach zero new HIV infections," Mr Sidibé said.

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